You have to be careful when judging canvas equipment and some leather goods by the snaps and hardware. The fakers may not be reproducing hardware that is marked as originals; however, there is still plenty of NOS hardware out there from the WWI, WWII, and the Korean War era. Some are notorious for doctoring up a repro item with original hardware. Over the years, I have seen boxes and cases of various snaps and hardware for sale at military shows and leather equipment auctions. I have bought snaps marked "United Carr", RAU, and even the "Star" lift the dot type snaps. I do not make any canvas gear, but have made many repairs using original NOS hardware.

The last auction I was at, there were some Amish gentlemen in attendance at an auction in Ohio, who brought in a WWII United Carr repair chest complete with all the various military snaps and setting dies. Many of the buyers there had no idea what it was so I was able to get it for $50. The only reason it went as high as it did was because someone else wanted the snap setting dies.